Jewish Education Change Network

Reducing Day School Tuition

I think that it is time that the world of Jewish education in the United States recognized that its Day School model is facing a double threat. It is being threatened by the increase in its tuition and by the growth of the Hebrew Charter School movement. I would like to propose a solution in advance of the Hebrew Charter School movement making significant inroads.

The strongest argument in favor of Day Schools is the social environment that it presents. Parents who leave Jewish Day Schools in favor of Charter schools do so primarily because of money. Why cannot the Jewish Day Schools reduce their operating costs significantly by reducing the number of hours spent each day on Jewish Studies to two class hours; one class hour spent on Hebrew language and one class hour spent on Jewish Studies subjects on a rotating basis; Talmud on Monday, Chumasch on Tuesday, Navi on Wednesday and Talmud on Thursday or in the alternative, create one class that incorporates all the Jewish Studies subjects except for Hebrew language. Why give Hebrew language skills priority and not Talmud? Because it is a skill that Day School should be able to teach and it is a skill that will allow a student to pursue independent study as he advances in age. I am not confident at all that Day Schools are successful in teaching Talmud. (Shall we poll the Israeli Yeshivot to learn how well prepared Day School graduates are?) If you are going to reduce your school hours, spend the time on what you are confident you can teach.

I am estimating that reducing the Jewish Studies program in half would result in a one-third cost savings. It would also result in a shorter school day that should further reduce costs. Are there no parents who would welcome a one-third reduction in their tuition bill?

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Comment by Andrea RC Kasper on February 5, 2011 at 5:01am: Certainly all parents would like the tuition reduction but to be honest I am not sure at the cost you suggest....if we reduce the Judaic studies time then we begin to take away what makes our schools different from other private schools. In my opinion most Day schools do not do THAT good of a job at teaching Hebrew and it is more important to help American students find a connection to American Judaism. Furthermore a shorter day is problematic for most parents who are working full time.

I am all for finding ways to reduce tuition...For one thing I am not sure that communities where there are Day schools are fully utilizing their resources...does there have to be a building just for the school, can it not share space with other Jewish institutions that could house adult learning as well. What about NOT differentiating so much between the Judaic and Secular subjects requiring different teachers - especially in the younger grades, which would reduce the staff and the cost.

It seems to me, from what I have been learning on this site, that there are new and exciting educational methodologies using distance learning that could also affect our costs in day schools. More self-directed models of learning in a beit midrash and other ideas could help us as well.

I would love to hear other ideas people have for tuition reduction - it is imperative that we find some solutions. Thank you for raising the topic here for discussion.

Comment by Erica Korman on February 16, 2011 at 1:14pm

I am quite suspect of reducing Jewish studies in a Jewish day school. I think there are too many organizations today that are attempting to bolster participation and involvement at the expense of the Jewish education itself. I suppose it is another debate of quality versus quantity. Here are some suggestions based on a Yeshiva University study by Harry Bloom on reducing day school tuition that do not affect the measure of Jewish topics. This quote is courtesy of the Lookstein Center for Jewish Education but a link to the direct YU article is on the page: Jewish Days School (2009) Economics: FAQ

Asterisks (*) indicate areas in which YU has initiatives designed to address the issue.

What else can be done to significantly improve the affordability of day schools?

Increase economies of scale through joint purchasing of goods and services with other schools and institutions, including insurance, books, heating oil, transportation services, security, etc. 20% of a school’s expense reduced by 15% can yield 3% savings annually. This estimate is less than what other industries have achieved by similar means.*

Communal fundraising, including planned giving.

Promote and advocate changing the funding model from only day school parents to one of 100% communal participation in day school fundraising appeals.

Promote Planned Giving to appeal to new donors via “products” that take advantage of IRS approved tax savings and can build endowment income (e.g., b

Comment by Abe Katz on February 16, 2011 at 2:25pm: I can understand that people would object to reducing the Jewish Studies portion of a Day School curriculum. However, in the face of rising tuition costs and the threat that charter schools will soon pose to those same schools, business as usual is not a smart response. I have little faith in all the talk about the community coming to the rescue of Day Schools nor did I expect the Orthodox Jewish billionaires that I have been hearing about (who are never identified) emptying their bank accounts to help the thousands who need tuition relief. My proposal represents an initiative that schools can undertake for the next school year and which can provide tuition relief that soon. A side benefit of my proposal is that it would cause Day Schools to perform a serious review of their Jewish Studies curriculum.

I like to use myself as an example of what I believe is wrong with the Jewish Studies curriculum at most Day Schools. Jewish Studies today is taught the same as it was taught in pre-World War II Europe for hundreds of years before that. I was someone who did not fare well in a system that taught Jewish texts page by page. I had to take a hiatus of over 25 years from Jewish textual study to finally discover how I need to study Jewish texts-by topic. I do not see myself as having unusual needs. Yet, few Jewish Schools teach Jewish texts by topic and not page by page.

For me the most important skills I learned in high school were Hebrew language skills, both in Modern and Rabbinic Hebrew. When I resumed serious Jewish textual study after my twenty-five year vacation from it, I was surprised that I had maintained my Hebrew language skills. Those skills have allowed me to undertake serious Torah study and serious Torah teaching. I invite you to visit the website I established for the study of Tefila, www. beureihatefila.com. I consider myself very fortunate to have attended a high school where Hebrew language was given as much attenti